Lubricating apparatus



June 16, 1931. A. w. READER 1,809,865

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1927 ezA im 36' l l l alf/@ader Patented June Y16, 19311 ALLAN WARRENREADEE, QF EERNDALQE,

,MICHIGemAssIGNQR T ALEMITE COR- roRATION, '9F kk@11.01.1160,'IJLIfLriNQ1S,l A lCQRJROJBATI,@Nor DELAWARE f ,LUBLMGATING arremete;

, Appncatm mea February` 25`1927. up." 179,799.`

My invention relates to centralized systems of chassis lubrication, and has orits main object the provision of a simplified-conduit arrangement for supplying lubricant `to .the kingpin, tie rod bolts, and front wheel brakingmechanism of an automobile.v l

A further object is'to provide a novel ytype of swivel connection for lubricant supply conduits. 'A A further object is to Aprovide a device E'of the above mentioned class rwhich is simple in construction and maybe economically manufactured.` Y Y Y,

Further'objects -will "appeary fro'mffthe foll5 lowing description, reference beinghadfto' the `accompanying drawings, ,in which:

F ig. 1` i'sa plan viewv of ftheefront .end portion` of an automobile chassis; n l

F ig. `2 is a detail elevation of a portion vof the front axle and the steering knuckle assembly; and Y y -p Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view Vof my improved swivelconduit connection.

As show-n in Figs. 1 and 2, the front axle l carries the spindle body 6 between 'its yend' yoke. A king bolt '8 extends through the yoke orminga pivotfor the spindle;- The ytie rod 10 is pivotaflly connectedtoitherspindle arm 12 by means of a bolt 14. 3C ln the Vformof my invention illustratedin the drawings,the-body 16 of the swivelrcon nection is preferably-securediin ythe upperend of the front axle yoke, as lshown The body is threaded at one endvto :receive the lubricant supply conduit 18.4 A sfwiyel head Y 20 ris threaded atits center to receiveya tube, 22. This tubehas` ,flelgegwhch fis. Ien-f gaged by a collar Y26, which in turn threads within thebody- 16. A hexagonal socket 17 is preferably provided .atV the klower vend of the bore of the/tube 22 to-acilitate the screwing of this part into thehead.V An apertured flexible cup leather 28, reinforced by a per`- foratedmetallic disc 32, is held against'the, lower end of the tube .22 by a conical springl` 30. The lower end 'of the Vspring 30 'rests upon a tapered flow resistance plug Sli-Which fits snugly within the complementally tapered bore in the body 16.V This` plug 1s' @1595511.13 ',Ol 1211.3 Cufpyleather being augmented lubricant. f 1f 'desredf the flow. resistance While shown and Vkies@tilted a per? shouldered at 36 to provide a seat for a liex- Y ible flap valve 38, thefopening movement Yof `which is -limitedby 5a' thinvlat springl. disc y14:2 provided withan orifice ,44 to permit the passage'of lubricant, `and a 4wire mesh strainer 46 are positioned'over the valve and are 4confined by a bead 4:8 which is crimped over the parts to clampv them securely in as.- sembled relation.

p `Asuitable kconduit y50 connected to one of the threaded ends of l:theswivel head and le'ads'to Athe-tie rodv bolt 14. `A second conduit y52 leads from thelother end 'ofthe swivel head 20 to the bearing ll'of the front wheel brake mechanism. It will be understood .that the'bea-ring 5.4: yandthe tie rod bolt V14 turn with the ffront wheel assembly in steering the automobile,so that the rconduits 50 and 52 will always remain in the same relative positions,.the revolving movement of the bearings being taken u-pin the swivel connections between the tube f 22'and the shouldered collar-26,.` Y

In operation the oil supplied under pressure through conduit 18 will pass upwardly through,Y the' orifice inf-the @up washer .and through the tube-22 and outwardly through the swivelhead to the, -onduits 5 0 and 5e. -ThecupfleatherZSiorms apo-sitive seal bep :tween theitubfvQand th @Olla-.1126, the .Spring bythe lubricant pressure t0 forma fluid tiefst seal, iIt Will'befunderstood @het f2.1 OW ,l'eSSiance-assembly similar t0 that used 011 the king bolt; will lbe used at the yti@ -rOd boit 21ml at-the bearing i5,4 of the ,braking mechanism,

`8'.; ,Since 'fitisunecefssery orrfthe oil to travel along;thefcircuitousgspiral path ,formed .by

` thethreadsf inthe cuter plus 34, ,COBSidJr-able resistance ibeaiforded at the bearings so thatfeaehjmaygrecewethe prepezr quota @fthe 99 @plugs ,34 ,atthe rar-ions bearings may have dierent resistances @compensate for the v`un;- @quelque-ntie 0f ,lubricant desired at web bearing, i

ticular'embodiment of ymy invention, it Ywill be apparent Yto these .skilled in the art that sgvlightyariations in the designar-.1e :structure may .bemeevwtllw departure from the s100 i threaded within said body, a cup leather engaging the end vof' said projection and the side walls of said collar, and means for resiliently pressing said cup leather against the end of said projection.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of bearings to be lubricated, two of said bearings being revolvable about a relatively stationary bearf ing, a conduit member for supplying lubricant under pressure to said relatively stationary bearing, a head having a swivel connection with said conduit coaxial with said relatively stationary bearing, lubricantpressed means for sealing said connection, and rigid conduits connecting said head with said revolvable bearings.

3. In a branched conduit lubricant supply system for a plurality of bearings, a lubricant supply fitting adapted to be secured to a relatively stationary bearing to be lubricated, a head rotatably mounted on said fitting, a plurality of conduits connected to said head and leading to bearings revolvable relative to said fixed bearing, and a spring and lubricant pressed cup leather for forming a lubricant tight seal between said fitting and said head.

4. In a lubricating system, a plurality of bearings to be lubricated, one of said bearings being relatively stationary andthe other bearings being revolvable about said stationary bearing, a fitting vhaving a lateral inlet and a downwardly extending passageway leading to said stationary bearing, a flow resistance element in said passageway, a head having a plurality of laterally directed outlets and a downwardly extending flanged projection, conduits connecting said outlets with said revolvable bearings, a collar threaded in the top of said fitting and engagj ing said fiange to connect said head and fitting for relative rotational movement, a cup leather in contact with the lower face of-said projection and the internal side walls of said collar, and a spring resting on said element and pressing said cup leather against said projection.

5. In a lubricating conduit system for supplying lubricant to a relatively stationary vbearing and a plurality of bearings revolvable about said stationary bearing, the combination of a chambered body secured to the stationary bearing and having a lateral inlet, a head having a plurality of outlets connected by conduits to said revolvable bearings, and a downwardly extending flanged projection, said projection having a passageway communicating with said outlets, an element having a portion engaging the flange of said projection, said element being threaded in said body, and sealing means engaging the end of said projection and the side walls of said element thereby to prevent escape of lubricant vbetween said element and projection.

6. yIn a lubricating conduit system for supplying lubricant to a relatively stationary bearing and a plurality of bearings revolvable about said stationary bearing, the combination of a chambered body secured to the stationary bearing and having a lateral inlet, a head having a plurality of outlets connected by conduits to said revolvable bearings, and a downwardly extending flanged projection, said projection of such length as to permit slight vertical reciprocation, a passageway therein communicating with said outlets, an element having a portion engaging the flange of said projection, said element being threaded in said body, and sealing means engaging the end of said projection and the side walls of said element thereby to prevent escape of lubricant between said element and projection.

7. Ina lubricating conduit system for the bearings adjacent the steering knuckle of an automotive Vehicle, the combination of a chambered body adapted to be secured to the king bolt bearing and having a lateral inlet, a head having a plurality of lateral outlets and a downwardly extending flanged projection, said projection having a passageway communicating with said outlets` a collar fitting over the flange of said projection and threaded within said body, said projection adapted to be vertically reciprocated within said collar, a cup leather engaging the end of .said projection and the side walls of said collar, and means for resiliently pressing said cup leather against the end of said projection.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of February, 1927.

ALLAN WARREN READER. 

